2025 年 42 巻 3 号 p. 317-322
Acupuncture is a traditional Japanese medical treatment that relieves various symptoms through physical stimulation with needles and thermal stimulation with moxibustion. Parkinson disease is one of the most intractable diseases, and an increasing number of patients are seeking treatment with acupuncture. Acupuncture treatment for Parkinson disease is a systemic treatment based on the concept of oriental medicine, and acupuncture is applied according to symptoms to treat tremor, walk disorder, pain, and other symptoms characteristic of Parkinson disease. Acupuncture is effective for both motor symptoms such as mask–like face, tremor, and gait disturbance, and non–motor symptoms such as depression and pain. Acupuncture also helps improve the quality of life (QOL) of Parkinson disease patients and is more satisfying to patients than other alternative therapies. Acupuncture relaxes muscle tone and reduces pain in the periphery. In addition, acupuncture is believed to reduce or prevent symptoms of Parkinson disease by restoring neurological function of the brain as assessed by LLR and by improving the lymphatic system during sleep.
